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If Amar'e could play half the defense that Kevin Garnett plays he will have no problem fitting in with this group of players. But if Amar'e plays the same type of defense that he played under Mike D'antoni opposing teams will look to expose him no matter how many points he averages a game.

This defense is all about the rotations. If Amar'e can get a quick grasp on that then I'm not that worried. I know ppl see how we are playing now and want to dump his contract but Amar'e is a much better help defender then on ball. With his athleticism he and Chandler should cover a lot of room and turn the paint into an official "no fly zone".

My main thing is he needs to trust the PGs to find him like they do Melo to finish plays. Don't get the ball then look around... Melo has learned to trust his teammates and Amar'e is next.

I think you'll find Amare will spend a lot of his time playing with Marcus Camby at C. Partly due to the fact that Camby has a respectable mid range jumper and can keep out of Stat's way as Stat will be used as the primary option of the PnR when he is out there with Camby.

I think it would be best for him to play his minutes with Thomas, Camby and Sheed because they can hide his defensive liabilities and can hit the outside shot to give him some space. I'd try to limit his minutes with Chandler and Melo as much as possible.

Playing defense and getting boards are not entirely about athletic ability. It's about player's determination. Amare has never played defense in his entire career. I wonder what makes the OP think that he would start doing it now.

OK, ANYONE WHO IS NOT SKEPTICAL OF AMAR'E'S DEFENSIVE ABILITY, PLEASE STAND UP!

Ok, now that you're all sitting comfortable, let me speak my mind.

I'm as big of an 'Amar'e Defense Skeptic' as there is, but mark my words:

AMAR'E WILL DEFEND...AND DEFEND WELL

This player is not stupid. He has a gifted offensive game and beyond FREAK athletic ability. He is (was) in the best shape of his life coming into training camp and is BY FAR one of the hardest workers on the team, both on the court and off.

Mike Woodson writes 2 stats on the board before and after each game:

Avg Pts Allowed

Avg FG% Allowed

Mikey Woodcack has made it abundantly clear what the goal for his team is:
To defend...
To rebound.....
To make the opposing team so nauseatingly sick of the Knicks suffocation tactics that they just pack it in and accept the L.

This isn't D'antoni's 'run-n-gun' from the 3PT (although we have taken a bunch of 3s so far).
This is accountability for yourself and your team on the DEFENSIVE END.
This is sharing the ball on the OFFENSIVE END.
This is being so facking unselfish that it makes other players and coaches sick with envy.

Playing defense and getting boards are not entirely about athletic ability. It's about player's determination. Amare has never played defense in his entire career. I wonder what makes the OP think that he would start doing it now.

I do think Amare will make our offense more potent.

Well, maybe the fear of losing his job makes him do things we didn't think he's even capable of?

Oh, wait, his on a $60M/3 uninsured contract and is considered freaking injury prone, no way somebody's touching it, Amare's job is safe.

Oh thank god someone posted something like this. I just hope Amare doesn't mess up what we have now. We could go 5-0 and even longer if we happen to beat spurs on their home court. I will kill somebody if he comes back and we lose 3 straight.